Rail-joint.



PATENTED APR. 16, 1907. H. SPUNAUGLE. RAIL JOINT APPLICATION FILED JAN. 16, 1907.

Witnesses HENRY SPUNAUGLE, OF, ST. JOSEPH, MISSOURI.

RAIL-JOINT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

resented April 16, 1907 Application filed January 16, 1907- Serial No. 352,565.

T0 (LZZ 1 11, 2,07 7325 may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY SPUNAUGLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at St.

Joseph, in the county of Buchanan and State of Missouri, have invented certain new 1 and useful Improvements in Rail-Joints, of which the following is a specification.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved means for connecting the abutting ends of rails, whereby the same are securely held against both vertical and longitudinal displacement, thereby greatly decreasing the olting occasioned when rolling-stock passes over the joint.

The invention further aims to accomplish this result by means of a construction comprising few and simple part; which can be readily assembled to form a complete joint.

For a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof, and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction and the means for effecting the result, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a track, illustrating the application of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view through a rail joint constructed in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 3 is a detached perspective view of the members constituting the chair of the joint.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The numeral 1 designates a base -plate, which fits under the joint and is shown as having an elongated formation so as to span the intervening space between a number of the ties 2. In the present instance the baseplate extends across three of the ties, and the said ties are notched or recessed, as indicated at 3, so that the base-plate lies slightly below the upper surface-of the remaining ties. Secured to the upper face of the base-plate 1 by any suitable fastening means, such as the rivets 4, is a second plate 5, one edge 6 of which lies flush with one of the longitudinal edges of the base-plate 1,while the opposite edge is provided with the upwardly-extending portion fitting against one side of the rails in such a manner as to constitute one of the splice bars for the joint.

In the preferred formation of the invention this upwardly-extending portion comprises an inclined section 7, fitting against the base of the rails, and a vertical section 8, fitting against the web of the rails. Under certain conditions it will be found desirable to provide this upwardly-extending portion with a bridge portion 9, extending upwardly, so as to be flush with the upper surface of the rails 10 and designed to receive the tread portions of the wheels of the rolling-stock, so as to carry the same across the junction between the rails without occasioning any considerable jolting. Fitting against the opposite side of the rails 10 is a spliceplate 11, comprising a vertical portion 12, corresponding to the web of the rails, an inclined portion 13, fitting over the base of the rails, and a base 1 1, fitting against the second plate 5.

i This splice-plate 11 is held rigidly in position by means of bolts or similar fastening members 15, passing through corresponding openings in the base 14 of the splice-plate, the second plate 5, and the base-plate 1. In order to prevent longitudinal movement of the rails 10, the usual bolts 16 are passed laterally through the web portions of the rails 10 and the vetical sections 8 and 12 of the two splice members of the oint. The usual spikes 17 may be employedfor securing the base-plate 1 to the ties 2.

As illustrated in the drawings, the ties 2 are shown as supported upon the longitudinal beams 18, and the portions of the beams 18 disposed under the joints are shown as connected by the cross-brace 19.

It is possible that under certain conditions it might be advantageous to form the baseplate 1 and second plate 5 in an integral structure.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is In a ra l-joint, the combination of a series of ties formed with recessed portions, a base plate spanning the ties and fitting within the recessed portions thereof, a pair of rail ends, a second plate riveted to the upper face of the base-plate and interposed between the same and the rails, one of the longitudinal edges of the second plate lying flush with the correspond ng edge of the base-plate, while the opposite longitudinal edge of the second plate is provided with an upward extension comprising an inclined sectionfitting against the base of the rails and a vertical extension. fitting against the web of the rails, the said upward extension carrying a bridge which lies flush with the tread portion of the rails, a splice-plate fitting of the rail ends and the Vertical portions of to against the opposite side of the rails and comprising a base portion resting upon the second -n1entioned plate, an inclined portion fitting over the base of the rails, and a Vertical portion corresponding to the Web of the rails, bolts passing through the baseplate, the second plate and base of the spliceplate, and bolts extending through the Webs the sp1ice-plate and the upward extension of the second plate.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of tWo Witnesses.

HENRY SPUNAUGLE. Witnesses:

GEORGE T. CLAIBORNE, JOHN J. SPRENGEL, Jr. 

